The Valsassina mountains have been exploited since the 19th century for iron ore, used to manufacture goods of all sorts. Milan’s armouries, for example, have always purchased their wares from here.
The Museum displays various items and illustrates how the iron ore was extracted and used. Esino contributed to this industry by providing wood to produce the charcoal required to fire the smelting furnaces.
In the photo, an acetylene-fuelled miner’s lamp (Associazione Amici del Museo delle Grigne Onlus / Wikimedia Commons).
